I have heard a few versions of this song. The best in my opinion, is Steeleye Spans. Off the album Tonights the night. It is a live recording, the studio version is not as good, very experimental.

Fighting for Strangers

Fighting for Strangers

cho: What makes you go away, fighting for strangers, When you could be save at home, free from all dangers?

A recruiting sergeant came my way,To an inn nearby at the break of day.He said: "Young Johnny you're a fine young man,Do you want to march along behind a military band,With a scarlet coat, a big cocked hatAnd a muscet on your shoulder?"A shilling he took and he kissed the book,Oh Johnny, what will happen to ya?

The recruiting sergeant marched away,From the inn nearby at the break of day.Johnny went too, with half a ring,He was off to be a soldier, he'd be fighting for the king,In a far off war, in a far off land,To face a foreign soldier.But how will he fare when there's lead in the air,Oh poor Johnny, what will happen to ya?

The sun shone high on a barren land,As a thin red line took the military stand.Sling shot, chain shot, grape shot too,Swords and bayonets thrusting through,Poor Johnny fell but the day was wonAnd the King is grateful to ya.With your soldier deeds done, we're sending you home,Oh poor Johnny, what have they done to ya?

Oh, they said he was a hero and not to grieveOver two wooden legs and an empty sleeve.They carried him home and they sat him downWith a military pension and a medal from the crown.You haven't an arm, you haven't a leg,The enemy nearly slew ya.You'll have to be put with a bowl to beg,Oh poor Johnny what have they done to ya?

cho: (2x)

Note: This is one of the most intense 19th century anti-warsongs.It seems to be a combination of pieces of several other songs, thefirst two verses are reminiscent of the Irish recruiting songs like"Twa Recruiting Sergeants" or "Arthur McBride" with a short hintat the Broken Token theme ("with half a ring")while the second half of the last verse is snatched as a wholefrom "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya".

Some men are drawn to oceans, they cannot breathe unless the air is scented with a salty mist. Others are drawn to land that is flat, and the air is sullen and is leaden as August. My people were drawn to mountains- Earl Hamner Jr.

Here is a song that had been in the Highlander top 10 for some time now

Donald Macgillavry.

Footnote : A Jacobite song to commemorate the Battle of Culloden on 16th April 1745. The song might refer to either the 1715 or 1745 Jacobite Rising; or perhaps the name Donald MacGillavry might just be used to denote Highlanders loyal to the Stewart Cause.

Donald's gane up the hill hard and hungry,Donald comes down the hill wild and angry;Donald will clear the gouk's nest cleverly,Here's to the king and Donald Mcgillavry. Come like a weighbauk, Donald Macgillavry, Come like a weighbauk, Donald Macgillavry, Balance them fair, and balance them cleverly: Off wi' the counterfeit, Donald Macgillavry.

Donald's run o'er the hill but his tether, man,As he were wud, or stang'd wi' an ether, man;When he comes back, there's some will look merrily;Here's to King James and Donald Macgillavry. Come like a weaver, Donald Macgillavry, Come like a weaver, Donald Macgillavry, Pack on your back, and elwand sae cleverly; Gie them full measure, my Donald Macgillavry.

Donald has foughten wi' rief and roguery;Donald has dinner'd wi' banes and beggary,Better it were for Whigs and WhiggeryMeeting the devil than Donald Macgillavry. Come like a tailor, Donald Macgillavry, Come like a tailor, Donald Macgillavry, Push about, in and out, thimble them cleverly, Here's to King James and Donald Macgillavry.

Donald's the callan that brooks nae tangleness;Whigging and prigging and a' newfangleness,They maun be gane: he winna be baukit man:He maun hae justice, or faith he'll tak it, man. Come like a cobler, Donald Macgillavry, Come like a cobler, Donald Macgillavry; Beat them, and bore them, and lingel them cleverly, Up wi King James and Donald Macgillavry.

Donald was mumpit wi' mirds and mockery;Donald was blinded wi' blads o' property;Arles ran high, but makings were naething, man,Lord, how Donald is flyting and fretting, man. Come like the devil, Donald Macgillavry, Come like the devil, Donald Macgillavry; Skelp them and scaud them that proved sae unbritherly, Up wi' King James and Donald Macgillavry.

....love this post, Barddas. It's like stepping back in time to read songs such as 'Ye Jacobites by Name'. It gives ye a great sense of what people were feeling and thinking at the time. Looking forward to reading more lyrics.

This is one of my FAVORITE songs! It is very difficult to play, and to sing( At the same time none the less ) It jumps from 4/4 to 3/4 every other bar....A little hard to keep track of with the mouth full of words that this song has. Also, anyone wondering this is in Auld Scots/Lallans. This is one of the languages that, Catriona is helping to preserve. Cat, PLEASE correct me if I am wrong! I would hate to give out incorrect information. There are some translations/meanings to some of the words after the lyrics...

History-

[From Hogg's Jacobite Reliques, Trad. George I, being a protestant German king, was viewed with ridicule and hatred by the Jacobite rebels. This is a scurrilous attack upon him and his court.

When George I imported his seraglio of impoverished gentlewomen from Germany, he provided the Jacobite songwriters with material for some of their most ribald verses. Madame Kilmansegge, Countess of Platen, is referred to exclusively as ``The Sow'' in the songs, while the

King's favourite mistress, the lean and haggard Madame Schulemburg (afterwards named Duchess of Kendall) was given the name of ``The Goose''. She is the ``goosie'' referred to in this song. The ``blade'' is the Count Koningsmark. ``Bobbing John'' refers to John, Earl of Mar, who was at the time recruiting Highlanders for the Hanoverian cause. ``Geordie Whelps'' is, of course, George I himself.

Lyrics

Cam ye o'er frae France? Cam ye down by Lunnon?Saw ye Geordie Whelps and his bonny woman?Were ye at the place ca'd the Kittle Housie?Saw ye Geordie's grace riding on a goosie?

Geordie he's a man there is little doubt o't;He's done a' he can, wha can do without it?Down there came a blade linkin' like my lordie;He wad drive a trade at the loom o' Geordie.

Though the claith were bad, blythly may we niffer;Gin we get a wab, it makes little differ.We hae tint our plaid, bannet, belt and swordie,Ha's and mailins braid -- but we hae a Geordie!

Jocky's gane to France and Montgomery's lady;There they'll learn to dance: Madam, are ye ready?They'll be back belyve belted, brisk and lordly;Brawly may they thrive to dance a jig wi' Geordie!

Hey for Sandy Don! Hey for Cockolorum!Hey for Bobbing John and his Highland Quorum!Mony a sword and lance swings at Highland hurdie;How they'll skip and dance o'er the bum o' Geordie!

history-In 1580, at the pass of Glen Malure in Co. Wicklow, IrelandFiach MacHugh O'Byrne overthrew the forces of the Crown under Lord Grey de Wilton. The victory is commemorated in this great song.

Lift Mac Cahir Óg your face, brooding o'er the old disgrace That black FitzWilliam stormed your place, and drove you to the fern Grey said victory was sure, soon the firebrand he'd secure Until he met at Glenmalure: Feach Mac Hugh O'Byrne!

Chorus:

Curse and swear, Lord Kildare! Feach will do what Feach will dare Now FitzWilliam, have a care! Fallen is your star, low! Up with halbert, out with sword! On we'll go, for, by the Lord, Feach Mac Hugh has given the word: "Follow me up to Carlow!"

See the swords of Glen Imayle, flashing o'er the English Pale! See all the children of the Gael beneath O'Byrne's banners! Rooster of a fighting stock, would you let a Saxon cock Crow out upon an Irish rock? Fly up and teach him manners!

Chorus

From Tassagart to Clonmore, there flows a stream of Saxon gore Och, great is Rory Óg O'More at sending loons to Hades! White is sick and Grey is fled, now for black FitzWilliam's head! We'll send it over, dripping red, to Liza and her ladies!